Alipur village, Delhi, afternoon of April 24, 1557
As the sun reached its peak, its rays cast a warm glare over the surroundings. A small but armed entourage made its way along a newly constructed cement road. The road, initially wide, gradually narrowed as it veered away from the bustling trade routes toward a remote village nestled in the countryside.
At the forefront of the procession rode Prince Aditya. Beside him was his loyal bodyguard, Bheem, leading the rest of the 200 royal guards.
As the village came into view, the surroundings transformed into a patchwork of fertile agricultural lands dotted with small thatched huts. A wooden barricade marked the temporary boundary of the village settlement.
Just beyond the entrance, an old waterwheel turned steadily on a canal, its rhythmic creaks blending with the hum of activity from a newly built paper mill nearby.
